Brisbane RTS 2002

October 2002

At Midday at Centenary park near the valley a group of people started to gather,the pirate ship trolly was constructed and built onto its custom made trolley,the night before it set sail on its maiden voyage around the ZZZ market day to spread the word on today’s action. About 50 assorted folk gathered as the sound system was activated and the skys darkened with rain laden clouds.The crowd swelled a bit more and the pirate ship rolled down the hill towards the road, just as we hit it the music ground to a halt as the generators auto oil cut-off kicked in cutting the power.”Stop the oil war” the banner read as we called out for some oil to get he trolley sounds going again,some oil was hastily found and we set off. The merry gang of street recliamers and the Groove Galleon as its been affectionatly named was in its element,setting sail on the high streets of Brisvagus pushing the parameters, looking for autonomous zoned pastures anew.

Onlookers looked on as revelers danced in the streets,the colourful crew morphed its way through the streets not a single cop in sight,freestyle politico-rap and loungeedik tunes washed through the area. Bike and teddy bear barricades were hastily constructed, still no cops,ah but the daydream was to shattered. Out of the corner of my eye the gate crashers from hell cut an a-line towards the pirate ship as the corner of Wickam and Anne streets filled with smiling dancing people. The grump faced officers ripped the leads out of the mixer breifly retreating in time for us to set up a microphone for a local aboriginal elder called Ruby who called for calm and told the cops they really work for her. Bribanes RTS had acknowledged we walk on stolen land and had got permission from the local Turrbal people for the action to take place.

In the ensueing chaos, three people were slammed in the back of paddy wagons and taken away to be released with no charges at a McDonalds, punishment enough. the second police assualt saw the Groove Galleon in very choppy water, a tug of war ended in the pirate ship remaining in our control but retreating to the park where we started under police escort. The drought stricken city was awash as the heavens reacted to the spirited anti war and anti car-maggeddon raindance.We danced to Monkey Marks selection of funk and hip hop as we got drenched to the skin,1 hour on the road,15 mins at the reclaimed streets but you gotta keep pushing, the party in the park went till hypothermia set in shortly after dark,if we hadn’t taken to the streets I’m sure the police would’ve stopped this too,we are living under the occupation of oppressive future destroying forces which we must overcome so keep educationg,agitating and organising, we will overcome,peace, Morphism